Drag queen robber admits to string of Connecticut robberies

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT), Debra Friedman STAFF WRITER

Published 1:00 am, Thursday, April 2, 2009

A Jersey City man who admitted to a string of bank robberies, three of which occurred in Greenwich, Westport and New Canaan, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Newark.

Huy Trong Luong
, 40, who officials said dressed as a woman during each robbery, told the court he was guilty of robbing a
Wachovia bank
branch in Old Greenwich on Jan 11, 2008, as well as a
Commerce Bank
in Bergenfield, N.J., on April 20, 2008.

At the court hearing, Luong also admitted to committing seven other robberies, including one in New Canaan, also on April 20, 2008, and another in Westport on Jan. 13, 2008.

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While he was not specifically charged in those instances, the court said it will take into account Luong's conduct before sentencing, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office Tuesday. Luong is believed to have stolen a total of $39,000 between all nine robberies, officials said.

The criminal complaint filed against Luong describes how he would disguise himself as a woman during each robbery, using wigs and hats.

"Inside his getaway minivan, police found a black wig, a black Dolce & Gabbana hat, a women's make-up kit and black jacket," according to a the complaint.

"This is good news. He certainly caused quite a bit of commotion and disturbance," said Marino, adding that during the Greenwich robbery, Luong pretended to have a bomb.

"When he was apprehended in New Jersey, we conferred with the FBI and exchanged information with regards to our robbery. We learned he had made admissions with regards to the Old Greenwich robbery," said Marino.

Luong was charged federally and will not be facing any additional charges from Greenwich police, Marino said.

Greenwich police said Luong wore a wig and sunglasses when robbing the bank at 190 Sound Beach Ave. in Old Greenwich.

Luong entered the Wachovia bank in Old Greenwich during the afternoon of Jan. 11, putting a bag on the counter in front of a teller with a note that said it was a bomb and demanding money, police said.

The teller complied and Luong made off with $2000, according to Marino.

Federal officials said Luong made several death threats in each of the robberies pretending to have bombs and in some cases, wrapping candles together to look like dynamite fuses.

Luong's guilty plea came before U.S. District Judge
Jerome B. Simandle
as part of a plea agreement which stipulates he will face between 70 and 87 months in prison.

However, court officials said his criminal history could increase the sentence. Luong also faces fines and mandatory restitution to the banks, according to the U.S Attorney's Office.